A gripping new crime novel exploring dark secrets in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside has been released, promising readers a thrilling dive into rural noir.
It’s an Ill Wind, the latest work by author Pam Keevil, introduces detective Mark Mulroney as he confronts a complex people-smuggling ring operating in southwest England. The story opens with a violent attack on Rachel Thomas, a young photographer investigating the region’s elusive “black beasts.”
Mulroney, relying on classic investigative techniques, quickly realises the assault is far from random. His pursuit to dismantle the smuggling network intensifies after the mysterious death of a local boat owner who may have held critical information.
Narrated through three distinct perspectives—the police investigation, Rachel’s evolving relationship with Finn Driscoll, and Finn’s internal struggle to break free from the gang’s grip—the novel weaves a tense narrative of loyalty, danger, and survival.
A twist emerges as Rachel develops feelings for Finn, the gang’s charismatic ringleader, complicating her efforts to uncover the truth and potentially save him from deeper criminal entanglement.
Pam Keevil, a former primary school headteacher and York University history graduate, draws on her extensive background in education, neuro-linguistic programming, and hypnotherapy to craft psychologically complex characters. Her passion for storytelling evolved from writing children’s stories to exploring the nuanced motivations behind her crime fiction protagonists.
Since attending the Swanwick Writer’s Summer School in 2012, Keevil has published three novels, including Mayflies, a supernatural love story. It’s an Ill Wind is her latest addition, delving into the unsettling reality that the true dangers of the countryside may come not from mythical creatures, but from human threats.
The novel offers readers a layered and empathetic portrayal of crime, appealing especially to fans of rural noir and psychologically driven fiction. Keevil’s work underscores the power of personal transformation, illustrating that reinvention is possible at any stage of life.
It’s an Ill Wind is now available from Pevesrel Press.
